Flavorful duck gumbo with deep smokey undertones, thickened with both okra and file, and complimented with a simple and easy dark oven-baked roux. MOOD MUSIC The first time I made this sausage and duck gumbo recipe was the first night spent in a new house in Chicago. I had decided during the closing process that …
Dinner
This Salmon Poke Bowl recipe is not traditional in the true Hawaiian sense by any means, but it is damn good and more in line with versions you'll see as part of the craze that's going on currently. I used the toppings to put my personal spin on it which skews more towards soul food …
A very simple roasted broccoli recipe dressed flavorfully for an easy weeknight side. Garlic and parmesan are simple adds that deliver big flavor! MOOD MUSIC I find some of the simplest recipes are the best. This roasted broccoli qualifies as such and is one of our favorite staples. It's especially great in a pinch when …
Simple Cucumber Salad that's packed with flavor and super easy to pull together. The salad is a refreshing, pick me up, but I also use it when I need to quickly take the edge off and prevent hangry man from showing up. However, because it presents so well and packs a lot of flavor it …
Purple vegetables make for a silky smooth cauliflower potato soup in this simple dinner soup recipe. Purple cauliflower and purple potatoes are well seasoned, cooked and pureed into creamy goodness then garnished with purple daikon and crushed pistachios to add a bit of crunch. The purple madness in this recipe is the result of all …
A roasted beet salad is a regular go-to in our house. This version with black kale is the base version, but it's more than good enough to add to your salad rotation. The heart shapes were Valentine's Day inspired around a heart beets theme, but clearly aren't required for the dish. I know many have …
Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar - Without a doubt one of the best roasted Brussels sprouts recipes you'll make; a simple, highly flavorful way to enjoy them! The sprouts are both savory and sweet, highly aromatic, and provides a unique mouth experience for the holidays or easy weeknight side. I never had brussels sprouts as …
Related Posts: If you’ve been searching for the perfect recipe to add a touch of Caribbean inspired goodness to your cooking, look no further! Our fantastic Mofongo recipe is sure to tantalize your taste buds and provide an incredible culinary experience. I love mofongo and with its traditional Puerto Rican flavors, this savory dish is …
Meatless Monday grilled portobello mushrooms. It's a simple way to get a filling and tasty meatless meal on the table in a matter of minutes. Mushrooms are marinated in a pineapple juice marinade and served with a delicious spinach chimichurri sauce. MOOD MUSIC GRILLED PORTOBELLOS INGREDIENTS GRILLING PORTOBELLOS INSTRUCTIONS Prepare the mushrooms Remove the stems, …
This spinach sauce recipe is a great way to sneak fresh greens into any dish while also enhancing the flavor of the dish. Spinach "chimichurri" sauce is one of two sauces that I keep on hand regularly. Both are easy to make, rely on a few ingredients that I regularly have on hand, are extremely …
These fiery Peruvian chicken kebabs (anticuchos) are an easy way to transform a simple, cheap cut of meat into something spectacular. Chunks of chicken, marinated in a hot and fruity yellow pepper sauce and quickly grilled on wooden skewers for a game day pleasing appetizer or quick, easy mid-week dinner entree with the family ready …
It's grilling season so I decided to update a family favorite hit - smoked cabbage wedges with an equally delicious pear-lime sauce.
For your next meatless meal try this sweet potato salad recipe or hockey pucks as my son calls the rounds. Cut them round, square, lengthwise or simply nice and fat. These oven-roasted steaks are enhanced by your choice of toppings. You can be as creative or plain as you want but this recipe strives for …
If you ever want to make a recipe "Southern" just fry it or smoke it. I doubled down in my Southernness for this smoked and fried eggplant recipe. The slow smoking of the eggplant infuses it deeply with smokey magic while leaving flesh moist. And because of the long cooking time in the smoker, the …
Delicious and simple Napa Cabbage Salad with Asian-Caribbean fusion dressing that takes all of about 5 minutes to have a sophisticated and brag-worthy dish on the table. This is a recipe that I adapted from a recipe from Marcus Samuelson's book exploring cuisine from across Africa. The dressing combines Scotch bonnet chilis with peanuts, ginger, …
What better way to showcase delicious mushrooms than in these simple, flavorful vegan stuffed portobello mushrooms. This is a great option for vegans as well as non-vegans who just want to lower their meat consumption. This time of year when family and dear friends are around making it a great time to catch-up over familiar …
This cucumber sambal recipe will be a great condiment for your holiday celebration whether it's Christmas, Thanksgiving or Kwanzaa. It pairs well with your favorite grilled fish or chicken. I love the refreshing element the cucumber base provides to this relish as well as the mild heat from the serrano chiles. The recipe was taken …
Enjoy this delicious bowl of smoky butter beans, a perfect Fall side dish. Butter beans or Lima beans as they're known in certain parts are a staple crop in Africa and Peru (particularly in the city of Lima after which they're named. When cooked properly, they are smooth and delicious, yet they have a reputation …
I love whole roasted carrots this time of year, but I love coffee roasted carrots even more. They're great plain or paired with a sauce like the spicy gochujang tahini sauce in this recipe. These are amazing for not only the simplicity of their cooking and prep, but more for the complex depth of flavors …
This is not your average bowl of eggplant stew. It's delicious, made with just a few ingredients, and seasoned with a South African Braai spice rub. The spice rub is made homemade and adds amazing flavor to a very simple dish that you will enjoy No Doubt! FOR THE MOOD Eggplant Ingredients For the eggplant …
These poached vegetables represent simplicity in prep and cooking, but AMAZING complexty of flavor! In a unique and loose reinterpretation of a "garden vegetable soup," leeks, fennel, and new potatoes are poached in a smokey ginger lemongrass broth. This is a one-pot dish in which chopping the vegetables is all the work required and cooking …
Last of the squash blossoms, just in time to make vegan squash blossom tacos! In Texas it's never easy to discern when Fall Season actually starts. The months and days change, but the temperatures not so much. So you have to take the good with the bad. The good and some times the great is …
Asian daikon salad, a most beautiful and tasty thing! One ingredient side salad with a simple but delicious vinaigrette. MOOD MUSIC WHAT IS DAIKON? Typically daikon is white and actually look like a thicker white carrot. They are common to Asian cuisine, particularly Chinese and Japanese. Not only are these daikon beautiful in color, they …
Indulge in the rich flavors of creamy vegetarian red beans and rice, a delightful and satisfying twist on the classic dish. Velvety textures, aromatic spices, and a medley of vegetables create a comforting meat-free option. This is soul food, vegetarian style! Related Bean Recipe Posts: Creamy vegetarian red beans and rice offer a delectable twist …
Potatoes scream comfort to me! Quick Roasted Mini Potatoes with chili lime sauce that give them that big EXTRA something good! The chili lime sauce is simple, but packs a complimentary punch. The lime juice brightens the potatoes and helps bring out that roasted flavor. MOOD MUSIC WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE ROASTED POTATOES For …
Sweet potatoes and collard greens can make the best leftovers, especially in this delicious and super easy Soba Noodle Bowl recipe. This is a vegan dish with odd combinations of vegetables that surprisingly work in great harmony together. Traditional "soul food" ingredients are paired with Japanese flavors for a satisfying and interesting meal. I recently …
Caribbean mashed boniato, infused with vibrant turmeric, aromatic thyme, and smoky paprika, offers a unique and flavorful twist. This side dish captures the essence of Caribbean cuisine, presenting a delightful blend of earthy sweetness and exotic spices in a creamy mash. Related Potato Recipe Posts: Creamy mashed root vegetables made Caribbean style for an alternative …
Nothing like some raw collard greens chiffonade to get me off that slide! Simply prepared, a tasty way to get collard greens in your life any day of the week. We eat collard greens in one form or another at least once a week in our household. This collard greens recipe made chiffonade style is …
Avocados are deserving of "top billin" status and these hummus stuffed avocados elevate them to main dish status. This recipe was inspired partly by my avocado ice cream dish. Avocados are halved and stuffed with hummus and a delicious pumpkin seed pesto. MOOD MUSIC WHAT'S NEEDED TO MAKE STUFFED AVOCADOS For the avocados For the …
Smoked beets with balsamic glaze combine the earthy essence of beets with a tantalizing smokiness, while the balsamic glaze adds a sweet and tangy finish. This harmonious blend creates a sophisticated and flavorful dish, perfect for those seeking a balance of savory and sweet notes in their culinary indulgence. Smoked beets are a modern take …
Miso Glazed Sunchokes Recipe - Simple, quick and tasty! Add pan-roasted Jerusalem artichokes a.k.a. Sunchokes to your root vegetable rotation. The miso sauce adds another level of flavor complexity and simply elevates the dish beyond the mundane and basic. "Glazed with miso sauce" just screams "special occasion" but it's a great weeknight monotony breaker as …
A pan seared scallops recipe that pairs perfectly cooked scallops with a sauce to die for. Perfect for a weeknight splurge or gourmet date night. Full confession, I made these scallops as an excuse to use my leftover pear cream sauce. Pear is mild in flavor, but there is just enough there that provides that …
This turnip greens and quinoa tabbouleh salad is the result of my commitment to get greens into my diet on a daily basis. It's been my routine for years now and this recipe reflects a creative, tasty way to get them in. Turnip greens, mustard, collards, kale, etc. it don't matter. It's just greens by …
This recipe for simple roasted leeks has an intensely deep flavor that makes this weeknight side feel gourmet. I'm a huge fan of roasting vegetables due to their simplicity and the intense flavor that roasting brings out. Roasted leeks are true to this form and are perfectly scented with fresh herbs in this recipe. MOOD …
Delicious vegan taco recipe perfect for meatless tacos Tuesday. I could eat these roasted vegetable tacos every day! So simple to make and very filling, and a great excuse to put a cool, tasty salsa on top. My favorite tacos are traditional carne asada with cilantro, onions, and lime juice. These vegetable tacos are meatless …
My daughter teases that a root vegetable salad is "old peoples' salad! But she never passes on fixing a large plate of this simple and delicious salad that brings together farm-fresh ingredients. When you grow-up with your grandparents and spend a fair amount of time with your grandmother and her crew of girlfriends and sisters, …
Stewed Okra and Tomatoes - fresh summer ingredients slowly simmered with a flavorful sofrito sauce for a balanced yet Southern classic stew-like side dish. It's prepared the Southern way, but with a Caribbean twist. The best part about cooking stewed okra is the aroma that is produced via the slow cooking of the ingredients which …
This Peruvian Lima bean recipe (ensalada de pallares) is a highly underrated bean salad. It's got flavor and texture. Growing up in Texas I've had my share of blackeyed pea salads aka "Texas Caviar" and this Lima bean salad is very similar in taste profile and technique. Lima or butter beans are common to soul …
Ground lamb is perfect for a stuffed eggplant recipe. Slightly gamey lamb is mellowed some by the rich silky eggplant. Smoked paprika and fresh herbs add ample flavor for a rather simple dish. MOOD MUSIC This stuffed eggplant recipe was born out of those conversations with some of my forward-thinking foodie friends about expanding the …
What's up my peeps! Today, we're gonna talk about one of my favorite ways to cook steak: sous vide. Now, I know what you're thinking - "Sous what?" But trust me, once you try it, you'll never go back to your old ways of cooking steak. And when it comes to sous vide, one cut …